VW teams, Lancer boys earn state berths

Van Wert independent sports

Both Van Wert cross country teams and the Lincolnview boys qualified for the state cross country meet during regional competition this past Saturday. Also qualifying individually was Crestview’s Mycah Grandstaff. It was the first time ever that both the Van Wert boys’ and girls’ teams qualified for state the same year.

The Van Wert boys’ cross-country team was second in the Division II race, behind Western Buckeye League rival Defiance.

Connor Holliday led the Cougars with a seventh-place finish in a time of 16:23.37, while Connor Shaffer was 17th (16:47.13), Daniel Perry was 18th (16:50.21), Jordan Butler finished 32nd (17:09.12) and Cade Fleming was 46th (17:24.83).

The Lady Cougars were fourth in the Division II girls’ race, led by Andi Foster’s 16th-place finish in 19:47.6. Amanda Clay was 18th in 19:55.84, Schealissa Williams was 24th in 20:07.55, Chloee Gamble finished 45th in 20:40.71 and Megan Barnhart was 69th in 21:20.2.

The Lancer boys ran their best team race of the season to place third overall in the field of 16 Regional qualifiers including seven state-ranked teams.  With the top 4 teams qualifying for the State meet next weekend the Lancers earned their trip to compete one more week against the best teams in the state of Ohio.

The Lancers were led by Alex Rodriguez, who individually qualified for the state meet by placing 14th and running a career best time of 16:45.  He was followed by teammate Bayley Tow, who placed 27th overall (17:13), Ben Bilimek 37th (17:22), Travis Lippi 50th (17:37), Trevor Neate 64th (17:51), Colton Snyder 80th (18:02), and Tracey West 88th (18:12).  Five of the Lancers ran career bests.

“Today was the very definition of team,” said Lincolnview Coach Matt Langdon. “It was clear watching the race that they were running for each other and on a day when not every team is able to run their best, we were able to put together our best team race of the season.

“All seven runners played a vital part in the team qualifying as we had very little margin for error,” Coach Langdon added. “I could not have been more proud of a young group of athletes in terms of how much they listened to coaching and focused on each other.  It was an awesome moment when we realized that we had made the top 4.  Now, we are excited to take one more shot at some of the best teams in the State.  It’s going to be a fun week.”

The boys run in the Division III state championship meet at Hebron at 1:30 p.m. this coming Saturday.

The Crestview High School boys’ cross country team finished eighth at the Tiffin Regional meet on Saturday. Mycah Grandstaff earned a trip to the state meet by running a personal record time of 16:32 and placing seventh. Grandstaff is an all-regional performer with his finish and ties Matt Langdon on the Crestview All time top 10 time list.

He was followed by Charles Thornburg in 32nd, Branden Clayton 48th, and Bryce Richardson 62nd. Cody Mefferd rounded out the scoring for the Knights with a personal record performance. Adam Saylor and Copsey Bogle were the other varsity runners in the race for Crestview.

Grandstaff will race in the state cross country meet at Hebron this Saturday, November 2, at 1:30 p.m.